The pro-privacy movement has been cranking up its own ideas to counter spy-tech with pro-privacy tech
As the reality of the extent and invasiveness of the security services’ dragnet surveillance programs hits home, the pro-privacy movement has been cranking up its own ideas to counter spy-tech with pro-privacy tech. The Lavabit founder’s recent Kickstarter for a secure end-to-end open source encrypted email project called Dark Mail is one example.
Today, here’s another: meet Blackphone, a smartphone that’s been designed to enable secure, encrypted communications, private browsing and secure file-sharing.
The project is a joint venture between Silent Circle — which shuttered its own encrypted email service last summer in order to preemptively avoid having to comply with government requests to provide data — and Spanish smartphone startup Geeksphone, which has previously made more standard Android handsets, and more recently has been building phone hardware for Mozilla’s open web standards HTML5-based Firefox OS.
The pair said today they have established a new Switzerland-based joint venture to collaborate on technology projects, with Blackphone set to be the inaugural product. They describe the phone as “the world’s first smartphone placing privacy and control directly in the hands of its users”.
Despite that grand claim, Blackphone is by no means the first encrypted smartphone. For example, back in September TC’s John Biggs and I paid a visit to a German based secure phone maker, GSMK Cryptophone, which has been in the encrypted telephony business for 10 years.
Another recent project to build a phone designed with security, encryption and identity protection in mind is the Quasar IV, which is using a hybrid Android/Linux and Quatrix mobile OS called QuaOS as the foundation for secure telephony.
But while Blackphone is not the only secure phone game in town, there’s no doubt that last year’s revelations about security agencies’ consumer electronics and services powered data-harvesting habits — revealed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden — have accelerated interest in security and privacy. The fallout from Snowden’s big reveal is clearly attracting new players to what could potentially become a much more mainstream space.
Hence, presumably, the Blackphone makers’ reasoning about now being the right time to build a pro-privacy phone that doesn’t carry the stench of security geek. The tone and nomenclature of their announcement very much feels targeted at a mainstream smartphone user, not a security specialist.
Their press release includes a statement from Phil Zimmermann, the creator of PGP, who is also involved in the project, which sets this tone.
“I have spent my whole career working towards the launch of secure telephony products,” he says. “Blackphone provides users with everything they need to ensure privacy and control of their communications, along with all the other high-end smartphone features they have come to expect.”
The Latest on: Pro-privacy tech
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Pro-privacy tech” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Pro-privacy tech
- Lawyers and Big Tech spend your money on left-wing causeson May 13, 2024 at 7:46 am
The Supreme Court must impose stricter protections over class action lawsuits and settlements so people aren't forced to back causes they don't support.
- Privacy 101: VPNs | What the Tech?on May 13, 2024 at 6:53 am
Protecting your privacy has never been more important and more difficult than it is now but having a VPN can help.
- The M4 iPad Pro's true potential will be realized at WWDC, and AI will have a lot to do with iton May 12, 2024 at 3:00 am
Apple's challenge will be aligning breakthrough hardware, like the AI-powered M4 chip, with cutting-edge software.
- Apple’s ‘Crush’ Ad for iPad Pro 2024 Is Tone-Deaf, Faces Backlashon May 9, 2024 at 5:00 am
Apple's ad for the new iPad Pro is distasteful, sparking widespread backlash on Twitter. Is it really insensitive, though? Find out here.
- Apple unveils new iPad Pro, iPad Air, Pencil Pro, and Magic Keyboard in ‘Let Loose’ eventon May 8, 2024 at 6:18 am
Apple has unveiled two new versions of the iPad Pro and the iPad Air with a breakthrough display, the M4 chip, and the thinnest form factor.
- OpenAI’s new ChatGPT privacy tool lets creators hide their work from the AIon May 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
OpenAI has been in hot water regarding data privacy ever since ChatGPT was first ... When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to ...
- The Top Privacy And Security Tech Trends Shaping The Next Decadeon April 30, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Explore the frontier of privacy and security, with the technological advancements set to redefine our lives by 2035, from quantum computing to biosecurity.
- Opinion: Americans might finally get a real privacy law to fight Big Tech intrusionson April 29, 2024 at 3:01 am
Congress is considering ways to protect our data at a crucial time, after Biden authorized a surveillance law and a TikTok 'ban' with a narrow focus.
- GitLab Duo AI interface and new AI privacy controls released by GitLabon April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
GitLab Duo Chat, a part of the GitLab Duo Pro add-on, offers a natural-language ... In response to growing concerns regarding AI privacy, GitLab has also rolled out new AI privacy controls for ...
- Got an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max? You'll Want to Explore These 3 New Featureson April 15, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Nelson Aguilar is an LA-based tech how-to writer and graduate ... on iPhone and Android features, privacy and security settings and more. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have a few special new ...
via Bing News